Dominic Smith, Mets explain unified decision to walk off the field: 'We’re not just going to shut up and dribble, shut up and play ball'

The Mets and Miami Marlins were part of a historic moment on Thursday night, taking the field only for a 42-second moment of silence before exiting the field and not playing their scheduled game, leaving only a single Black Lives Matter t-shirt at home plate.

It was a unified stand by both teams amid racial injustice protests occurring around the sports world and around the country.

“It was from all of the players, we threw out ideas. The 42 seconds was an agreement between us and the Marlins. I met with a couple of their players,” Michael Conforto explained. “[Miguel] Rojas brought up that idea. We wanted to make sure what we were doing out there was done by both teams and we wanted to make sure it was organized, and the right message was being put out when we went out on the field.

“It was a bit last-minute, but I think the right message was portrayed and I think it was good.”

The actions came less than 24 hours after Mets’ first baseman and outfielder Dominic Smith knelt for the national anthem and gave an incredibly raw and emotional press conference with members of the media, expressing that “the most difficult part is to see people still don’t care.”

On Wednesday, Smith said that he didn’t discuss his plans to kneel with his teammates ahead of time, because the kneeling wasn’t for them, he explained.

But on Thursday, Smith’s teammates expressed how proud they are to share a clubhouse with him.

“We know him very well. He’s a very upbeat and positive person. Always smiling, even right now,” Conforto said. “You can’t help but feel a very, very small percentage of what he feels and what he’s been through. When you love a guy like him the way that the rest of his teammates do, it’s a pretty powerful thing.”

“You just feel his pain,” said Dellin Betances. “Obviously not just him but everybody that’s gone through this. Definitely touched home and we’re here to support. We’re a family. This was an easy decision for us, collectively.”

Added Robinson Cano: “He’s a brother. We all love him here. We’re always going to be on his side.”

Many teams around baseball voted not to play on Thursday, but the Mets and Marlins were the only teams to take the field and then walk off.

It was a historically powerful moment, one that the Mets hope can serious help effect change.

“We need to treat each other with respect, with kindness, no matter your race, no matter where you come from. I think it’s as simple as that,” said Conforto. “I think that’s the message that we’re putting out there tonight.”

“We’re just tired of all the injustice in the black community. It’s time for a change,” Betances said. “We’re using our platform as best as we can so we can make a change.”

“We’re not just going to shut up and dribble, shut up and play ball,” Smith said. “We’re going to stand for what we believe in.”

Smith also explained that countless people from all over the sports industry reached out to him after his Wednesday press conference, asking what they can do to help create change.

“It’s still overwhelming to this moment, just to see how moved my peers are, my teammates, my brothers, the front office, the coaching staff … It made me feel really good inside and it made me feel that we are on the right path of change.

“I heard from tons of people across three different sports – NBA, NFL. I’ve got people who work for companies, ESPN, MLB Network, reaching out. A ton of people just reached out and want to help. That’s the impact and change that we need, and I can’t thank them enough for just being open and being willing to actually change or want to change or take the next step to change.… It’s been overwhelming.”